Got a diagnosis of high cholesterol on the 23rd, so the GP has given me a standard sheet of paper on diet: avoid saturated fat, base meals on carbohydrates. Was anticipating a terminal diagnosis, so it's positive news really.

Happy to do what's necessary but I wasn't a fan of carbs last year, and still gained 9% of my body weight all in belly fat.

Still it's another motivator IMO so really looking for advice on diet again as I start increasing my training from the current 30min run per week(!) The NHS advise diet drinks, rice and pasta and other stuff I traditionally avoid.

Can't give too much advice but I have very high cholesterol - however it's never affected any of my training or racing and I don't even give it a second thought. You should find as you increase your training it will come down a little, but it won't be instantaneous - think months to years as opposed to days and weeks.
_________________Earning a hundred grand a year isn't going to help you at mile 16 of the marathon

Got a diagnosis of high cholesterol ... wasn't a fan of carbs last year, and still gained 9% of my body weight

(bit ot op but) elevated cholesterol and unexplained weight gain ... have you had a thyroid function test?
_________________'the sea was angry that day, my friends - like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli ...'

Can't give too much advice but I have very high cholesterol - however it's never affected any of my training or racing and I don't even give it a second thought. You should find as you increase your training it will come down a little, but it won't be instantaneous - think months to years as opposed to days and weeks.

How coincidental. - my sister was diagnosed two months back with underactive thyroid...(!)

Would that not show up in my blood test results?

you can have hypothyroidism and still have 'normal' test results (not trying to diagnose you, op, and ianad , just know s/o who has it and the cholesterol/weight combo rang a bell)
_________________'the sea was angry that day, my friends - like an old man trying to send back soup in a deli ...'

My answer is: I think you will find that it is a bit more complicated than that.

The BHF website is written for a wide range of people who may, for example, just be consuming chocolate, pizza, burgers and chips and who want to read a quick summary. It is not intended to be a complete. And it doesn't mention the different views that people have (i.e. it is not settled science).

So for example, it says

BHF wrote:

Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) is known as the bad type of cholesterol. LDL carry cholesterol from your liver to the cells that need it.

But a more detailed answer would be along the lines:

Cholesterol Clarity wrote:

There are two major classifications of LDL particles that can be measured: Pattern A is the large, fluffy, and generally harmless kind that is described as good LDL (yes, there is such a thing); Pattern B is the small, dense, potentially dangerous kind that is described as bad. Pattern B LDL can easily penetrate the arterial wall, compromising your heart health. This is what you are trying to avoid at all costs, so knowing the breakdown of your LDL particles is critical to determining overall heart health.

But when the tests that the doctor gives you just says "LDL" then what is the point of the BHF saying that?

The BHF also talk about the risks associated with saturated fat. My concern here is that this is a "common sense" answer rather than something that is evidence based (in the scientific sense). For example, eating more fat and less carbohydrates may have a bigger impact on overall heart health (e.g. because of a reduction in arterial inflammation).

My understanding is that high cholesterol by itself will not harm you. But if you have arterial inflammation it will. So I go back to my "it's a bit more complicated than that".